Ex-Gaza hostage blasts UK on recognising Palestinian state

Starmer pledged Tuesday to go ahead with recognition in September unless Israel takes "substantive steps", including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.

Emily Damari -- a dual national who spent 471 days in captivity after she was kidnapped during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel -- criticised the initiative.

"This move does not advance peace -— it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy," the 29-year-old wrote on X.

"By legitimising a state entity while Hamas still controls Gaza and continues its campaign of terror, you are not promoting a solution; you are prolonging the conflict," she said.

Starmer's move, paired with France also saying it will recognise a Palestinian state in September, would make the two European allies the first G7 nations to do so.

"Recognition under these conditions emboldens extremists and undermines any hope for genuine peace. Shame on you," Damari added, addressing Starmer directly.

In a post on Instagram, the former hostage condemned the prime minister for not being "on the right side of history".

"Had he been in power during World War II, would he have advocated recognition for Nazi control of occupied countries like Holland, France, or Poland?" she said.

"This is not diplomacy -- it is a moral failure. Shame on you, Prime Minister," she added.